The 13 Fourth Quarter Points From Jalen Brunson That Sent the Spurs Reeling, And Wembanyama Had No Answer

Holy smokes, NBA Finals Game 1 felt like a movie, didn't it? The Knicks just snatched the first game of the series, pulling off a certified classic, and Jalen Brunson, man, he wrote the script. He tacked on another brilliant, signature performance to his growing collection, and it absolutely felt like more than just one game. When the final buzzer screamed, the Knicks had scored the last 11 points, keeping the Spurs completely scoreless for the final two minutes and 15 seconds. Incredible!

Brunson's Fourth Quarter Takeover Is UNREAL

Look, everyone's been hyping up Victor Wembanyama, and for good reason, but Brunson absolutely stole the show. He was already shooting a ridiculous 58 percent in the fourth quarter this postseason, and he just kept that magic going. Down by 14, Brunson went on a personal 8-0 run, absolutely dragging the Knicks back into the fight. Then, to put the final nail in the coffin, he dropped 13 points in that fourth quarter alone. Thirteen! Knicks coach Mike Brown nailed it, saying, "He’s a gamer, man. In the biggest moments, he shows up. That's what MVPs are supposed to do. We put the ball in his hands, said we were going to live and die with him, he went and got it done for us." This guy even limped to the locker room in the first half with a knee injury, but he came out walking with that swagger, that confidence, that certainty he was going to will his team to a 1-0 series lead. And he did!

Wembanyama and the Spurs Are Officially on the Clock

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson called Brunson a "Phenomenal player" who had a "phenomenal game." But he also pointed out Brunson's "30 points on 31 shots," hinting they want to make him work for those buckets. But here’s the kicker: Wembanyama, the supposed savior, just didn't have an answer in Game 1. Johnson knows it, too. He's talking about countering by getting Wembanyama the ball closer to the room, aiming for more points in the paint, working near the rim. "Get him moving in space and toward the rim, whether that's on rolls or in transition, but we need the pressure on the rim," Johnson explained. "We didn't have enough pressure on the paint all night." That's a reasonable start, sure, but it's a huge problem that Wembanyama was silent when it mattered most. Now, it's Wembanyama's call where this series goes from here. Game 2 is coming fast, and the pressure is squarely on the Spurs to figure out how to stop Brunson and get their own superstar involved. If they don't, this "Brunson coronation" Johnson mentioned is only going to get louder! Can Wembanyama respond, or will Brunson just keep cooking? You know I'll be glued to every second.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.